Tail-lamp.



e. c. BARR. TAIL LAMP;

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. I915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

wmemb G. C. BARR.

TAILLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB 25, 1915.

Patented Nov. 7, 1 916 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 (Juvawtoz wwmamo clips 19 andthe plate 20, is a metallic clump ing plate 21 arranged to seat ilstlyagainst the plate 20 and provided with an opening similar to the opening18 of the wall 17. It will be observed that two of the clips 19 arepreferably arranged adjacent the lower edge of the opening 18 while athird clip is arranged adjacent the upper edge of said opening andmedially thereof to thus eiiiciently hold the plate 20 in positioinitbeing observed upon reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings that the loweredge ofthe said plate and of the clamping plate 21 is supported by theadjacent margin oifthe top wall 12, lly this arrangement, the clampingplate 21 may be readily removed by flexing the free ends of the clips 19laterally and the closure plate 20 may then be subse quently removed ina similar manner. 'llhus, should the plate 20 become broken, it may bereadily replaced.

Formed on the forward longitudinal edges of the top and bottom walls lland 12 and upon the forward. edge of one of the side walls 13 or securedthereto in any suitable manner is a channel member 22 adapted toremovably receive a translucent closure plate 23, the said closure platebeing slidably received within the channel member to close. the housingat the forward open end thereof and being insertible within the channelmember at one side of the housing.

Seating against the outer face of the plate 23 and removably receivedwithin the channel member 22 is a stencil plate 2%. The stencil plate24; is -it'ormed with openings defining a license number which may beidentified by a letter as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, alsoformed in, the plate,

and the webs of the plate arranged to coact with the body portionthereof to define the said letters or numbers, are supported by bridgepieces or members As best shown in 1 or the drawings, these bridgepieces are each preferably formed from a piece of wire secured, at oneextremity. to the body or the plate and at the other'extremity, to theadjacent web, the wires bridging the openings in the plate defining theletters or numbers. In this connection, it is to be observed that theplate 24 while being translucent, is preferably of a solid white color,while'the A .encil plate 24 is preferably black, so h ft the licensenumber displayed by the said stencil plate may, in the daytime, bereadily observed.

One of the end Walls 13 of the housing is extended at the forward open.end of the housing to provide :1, terminal laterally projeoting lug orelement 26 arranged in a plane substantially psrallel with the plane ofthe member 22 and disposed to detachebly support retraining member 27preferably connected thereto by bolt 28. The member 2! is oiiifsetedjscent one extremity tially concentric relation to thesemi-cylindrical. wall ll of the housing, is a substantially circularopening 30 and surrounding the said opening in spaced relation thereto,13 a laterally extending annular flange 81. The flange 31 is arranged todepend from the outer face of the bottom wall 11, and

may be secured thereto in any suitable manner.

Arranged withm the housing and removably received through the opening 30is a preferably electric light bulb 32 which is supported by aconventional type of socket 38. Formed on the socket 33 adjacent theouter terminal thereof is an annular collar 34 which is provided with aperipheral screw threaded flange 35 adapted to coaet with the flange 31for detachably connecting the socket and the bulb 32 with the hous- Thefilament of the light bulb 32 is included in ii circuit with a source ofelectrical energy no any suitable manner and it Wlll be noted that thelight rays from the bulb will be projected by the concave face of thewall 14 toward the closure plate 23 to emerge through the openingsformed in the said stencil plate 2% and defining the license number.Consequently, the saidnumber may be readily observed at night. t willthus be seen that I provide a very efficient arrangement for displayingthe license number while the light rays from the bulb 32 will also beprojected by the wall M to emerge through the plate 20, which will becolored red to provide a red light signal.

Secured to the end walls 13 of the hou ing are transversely arrengedattaching sleeves 36 which are provided with radially extendingterminals 3?. Connecting the terminals 87 of each of the sleeves, is abolt 38, the shank of which is screw threaded to receive a wing nut 39.'llhe sleeves 36 are, as will be well understood, each adapted toreceive the shank of a suitable bracket carried'by the motor vehicle orautomobile for detachablyconnecting the lamp therewith.

While l have indicated that an electric lamp is preferably employed inconnection with my improved tail light, still, it will be seen that theconstruction which I disclose may be readily adapted for use inconnection with an oil lamp or other illuminating means.

r Having thus described'lny invention, What I claim and desire to secureby Letters Pat- 4 1 being formed, with Walls converging away 'from' saidopening into a substantially semicircular yvallgform-ing arcfle ctordisposed opposite the said opening, the bottom wall of the housinghaving an opening formed therein, a flange surrounding .the opening inthe bottom wall, a socket provided with a 'flange engaging said firstmentioned flange, the socket being adapted tosupport a lamp projectedinto. the light chamber in front of said reflector, a plate associatedwith the opening in the housing and adapted to permitthe passage oflight there-. through, and means for holding said plate in position.

2. A device of the characterdescribed in- 1.: Adevice ofthe'characterdescribed 1111- eluding a housing provided with an opening,a receiving member carried by the housing and provided with an opening,a plate associated with the opening in the housing and mounted in saidreceiving memher, the said plate being adapted to permit the passage oflight therethrough, a lug carried by the housing adjacent the openin insaid receiving member and'projecting lfifirally from the said member,the said lug elng'adapted to provide a guide for d1rectmg the sald plateinto the recewmgmemher, and a retaining member carried by said lu and ena ln the )late for ma1nta1n1n b b a p the plate 1n posltion.

In testimony whereofI'affiX my signature in presence. of two witnesses.

v GALILEO (l'BARR. Witnesses i r WM. P. HARPER, GEO. A. GESSNER.

